There are two Companies of Minute-Men nearly completed in the Manor of Cortland —one in the Eastern District, the other in the Western District. The Committee think it of importance (if it can be done) that blank commissions should be sent to the Chairman, to be filled up by him, as soon as the Officers are elected.

By order of the Committee:

GILBERT DRAKE, Chairman.

White Plains, October 24, 1775.

SUFFOLK COUNTY (NEW-YORK) COMMITTEE TO NEW-YORK CONGRESS.

At a meeting of the several Committees in the First Regiment in Suffolk County, held at Smithtown, the 24th October, 1775, Mr. William Smith appointed Chairman. Present:

From HUNTINGTON: Jesse Brush, Esq., Thomas Wickes, Esq., Gilbert Potter, Stephen Keley, John Squier, Stephen Ketcham, Timothy Ketcham, Henry Scudder, Thomas Brush, Jun., Israel Wood, Ebenezer Platt.

SMITHTOWN: Daniel Tillotson,Thomas Treadwell, Esq., Jeffery Smith, Philetus Smith, Daniel Smith, Captain Job Smith, Jacob Mills, Edmund Smith, Jun., Epenetus Smith, Samuel Phillips.

Manor of ST. GEORGES: Mr. William Smith, Jonah Hulse.

MERICHES: Captain Joliah Smith.

BROOKHAVEN: Captain Samuel Thompson, William Brewster, John Woodhull, Daniel Roe, Nathaniel Roe, Noah Hallock, Captain Jonathan Baker, Richard Wood-hull, Esq.

At this meeting, a commission of the First Major in this Regiment being offered to Mr. Nathan Woodhull, he declined taking the same, offering such reasons as are satisfactory to this Committee. Likewise, a commission of a Second Major in the abovesaid Regiment being offered to Mr. Edmund Smith, Jun., he declined taking the same, offering reasons satisfactory to this Committee. They then received the thanks of this Committee for their publick spirit in their resignations.

The Committee then proceeded to the nomination of two Majors to fill the above vacancies, which is as follows, viz: Mr. Jeffery Smith, for the First Major; Captain Jesse Brush, Second Major.

Signed by order of the Committee:

WILLIAM SMITH.

To Colonel Nathaniel Woodhull, President of the Provincial Congress, New-York.

GENERAL WASHINGTON TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.

[Read November 1, 1775.]

Camp at Cambridge, October 24, 1775.

SIR: My conjecture of the destination of the late squadron from Boston, in my last, has been unhappily verified, by an outrage exceeding in barbarity and cruelty every hostile act practised among civilized nations. I have enclosed the account given me by Mr. Jones, a gentleman of the Town of Falmouth, of the destruction of that increasing and flourishing village. He is a very great sufferer, and informs me that the time allowed for the removal of effects was so small that valuable property of all kinds, and to a great amount, has been destroyed. The orders shown by the Captain for this horrid procedure, by which it appears the same desolation is meditated upon all the Towns on the coast, made it my duty to communicate it as quickly and extensively as possible. As Portsmouth was the next place to which he proposed to go, General Sullivan was permitted to go up and give them his assistance and advice, to ward off the blow. I flatter myself the like event will not happen there, as they have a fortification of some strength, and a vessel has arrived at a place called Sheepscut, with one thousand five hundred pounds of powder.

The gentlemen of the Congress have nearly finished their business; but, as they write by this opportunity, I must beg leave to refer you to their letter for what concerns their commission.

We have had no occurrence of any consequence in the camp since I had the honour of addressing you last; but expect every hour to hear that Newport has shared the fate of unhappy Falmouth.

I have the honour to be, with the most sincere respect, Sir, your most obedient and humble servant,

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Falmouth, Monday, October 16, 1775.

The Canceau ship, of sixteen guns, commanded by Captain Mowat, a large ship, schooner, and a sloop, armed, anchored below the Town. The 17th, at three, P. M., they weighed and came up, and anchored within gun shot, and immediately Captain Mowat sent a letter on shore to the Town, giving them two hours to move their families out, as he had orders to fire the Town. The Town immediately chose a Committee of three gentlemen, and sent them on board, to know the reason of that Town’s being set on fire; he returned for answer, that his orders were to set fire to all the sea-port Towns between Boston and Halifax, and that he expected New-York was then burnt to ashes. He further said, that when he received orders from the Admiral, he desired that he might show some favour to the Town of Falmouth, which the Admiral granted, (I suppose, as Captain Mowat was under particular obligations to some gentlemen at Falmouth, for civilities shown him when in captivity amongst them,) and which favour was, to spare the Town till nine o’clock, Wednesday morning, in case we would send him off eight small arms, which the Town immediately did. Wednesday morning, being the 18th, the Committee went on board Captain Mowat again, in order to save the Town; he said he would save the Town till he heard from the Admiral, in case we would send off four carnage guns, deliver up all our small arms, ammunition, &c., and send four gentlemen of the Town as hostages, which the Town would not do. About half past nine in the morning, he began to fire from the four armed vessels, and in five minutes set fire to several houses. He continued firing till after dark the same day, which destroyed the largest part of the Town. He further informed the Committee, that he should proceed to Portsmouth, and destroy that place also.

The foregoing is as near the facts as I am able to remember, as witness my hand.

PEARSON JONES.

H. WENTWORTH TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Portsmouth, October 19, 1775.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY: We beg leave to acquaint you that an express is just arrived here from Falmouth, Casco Bay, informing us that on Monday last came in there the Canceau, armed ship, Captain Mowat, together with a schooner mounting fourteen guns, a large transport, and two sloops, all full of men; that they lay at the mouth of the harbour till Tuesday following, making signals for some person to come off to them, which being taken no notice of by the Town, they weighed their anchors and came up and lay between the ferryways and Papusdock, from whence they sent on shore a message, acquainting the inhabitants that they had orders to fire upon the Town. In consequence of this message, a Committee went on board Captain Mowat, to whom he showed his orders from the Admiral, which were, that in case the inhabitants did not forthwith deliver up their arms, and give hostages for their future good behaviour, he was to destroy that Town, and afterwards proceed and destroy this, Captain Mowat, however, acquainted the Committee, that in case they would deliver up part of their arms that night, he would give them till next morning to consider of his requisition; they accordingly sent on board eight muskets that evening. At half past eight, yesterday, this express came away, and heard a heavy firing all day afterwards, which began precisely at nine o’clock.

We entreat your Excellency’s patience while we assure you that the people of this Province, and of this Town in particular, have exerted every nerve to put this port in a proper state of defence, but that all our precautions are to no effect, for want of a sufficient quantity of powder, our whole stock of which at present is only seventeen barrels. We have therefore despatched Mr. D’Ewing, who has orders to wait on your Excellency before he sleeps, to